The focus on workforce development should also be on developing sustainable economic development in Hawaii. We will soon see oil prices over $100/barrel, and within 20 years maybe go over $200/barrel. Where will we source our food and supplies? When oil prices rise to these levels, our tourist economy will collapse and our state revenues will dry up. I would like to see us develop a focus on growing our own food, growing our own construction resources (bamboo), develop our own energy (not petroleum based), develop helping resources for those in need (senior housing, better medical access), promote sailing and other sustainable means of travel, and essentially be a model for the rest of the world in living in respect for our environment. Hawaii 2050 is way too late - we should be thinking Hawaii 2015!

How about UHM making seed grant money available to build town-gown training programs? And how about allocating a number of faculty positions each year that programs engaged in such training/outreach can compete for?

The focus on workforce development should also be on developing sustainable economic development in Hawaii. We will soon see oil prices over $100/barrel, and within 20 years maybe go over $200/barrel. Where will we source our food and supplies? When oil prices rise to these levels, our tourist economy will collapse and our state revenues will dry up. I would like to see us develop a focus on growing our own food, growing our own construction resources (bamboo), develop our own energy (not petroleum based), develop helping resources for those in need (senior housing, better medical access), promote sailing and other sustainable means of travel, and essentially be a model for the rest of the world in living in respect for our environment. Hawaii 2050 is way too late - we should be thinking Hawaii 2015!

This is absolutely spot-on! How many days of food supply do we have? UH could take a real leadership role and make a difference in this area.